Local family encouraging organ donations

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 4:03 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 4:03 p.m.

Dave and Mary Duplantis of Thibodaux said they can’t express how much New Orleans-based Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency means to them.

The nonprofit group recovers organs and tissues for individuals needing transplants.

In 2010, Mary discovered she was suffering from Cardio Miopathy, which is the weakening of the heart muscle. Since May 2010, Mary has used a heart pump to keep her alive. The pump, called a Left Ventricular Assist Device, is needed to circulate the blood, doing the legwork Mary’s heart can no longer do.

For 19 months she’s lived in Houston for monthly treatments, waiting for her new chance at life. Mary has been on the heart transplant list since June 2011.

“She has been residing in Houston with our youngest son, Jacob, waiting for a donor to be identified for a heart transplant,” David said.

Mary’s condition and the separation of their family has inspired the couple and their family to join together to raise awareness about the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency and the need for organ donors.

“Our family has decided to become involved in LOPA’s fundraiser because we have experienced firsthand the miracles involved in organ donation,” David said. “We understand that organ donation may offer the gift of sight, freedom from machines or even life itself.”

Beginning at 8 a.m. March 2, LOPA is co-sponsoring a fundraiser, the “Marsh Mad Dash for Life,” on the Nicholls State University campus in Thibodaux. The inaugural fundraiser includes a fun walk/run and a 5K walk/run. The Duplantis family put together “Mary’s Team” for the event.

Proceeds will benefit education throughout the community and statewide programs at schools, community groups, driver’s education classes, churches and more.

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center and Terrebonne General Medical Center are co-sponsoring the event as well.

Colonels for Life, a Nicholls student group that promotes organized tissue donation and donor registry will help out. A group of culinary students will cook during the fundraiser, providing tasty local dishes like jambalaya.

Houma-based band Voodoo Bayou will perform.

“It’ll be a great day,” said Kirsten Heintz, LOPA’s director of public relations and education.

The event will include food, cash prizes for runners, door prizes and more. Everyone who registers receives a race T-shirt.

Heintz said there are about 1,700 people across the state waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. More than 116,000 are waiting across the United States. Last year, more than 100 people died in Louisiana while waiting for a transplant.

“It’s so hard for all of us to know that there is something out there that can give Mary a much better quality of life, and she can’t get it,” Heintz said. “There’s nothing any of us can do to buy it or move ourselves up on the list except get more people to say yes to donations.”

She added that lots of local residents received and donated organs from this region.

“The problem is that organ donation is something that comes after we die, and our culture doesn’t like to think about death,” Heintz said.

Some of the biggest misconceptions people have about being organ donors are that if it’s marked on their driver’s licenses, they won’t receive medical attention to save their lives, she said.

“But that goes against every oath health care providers take,” Heintz said. “Plus you have to be at a hospital on a ventilator to even be considered.”

Some people also think it costs money to be a donor, which is also untrue. Heintz said there is no cost to the family of a deceased organ donor.

Other concerns include whether religions condone the act. Heintz said most major religions actually encourage organ donations or say it’s an individual decision.

“For some in Christianity, it’s one of the most Christ-like things a person can do,” she said. “Another misconception is that people can think they’re too sick. Like people with diabetes. But, for example, maybe not a person’s pancreas, but their liver or heart may be functioning fine.”

LOPA encourages everyone to talk to his or her family about becoming an organ donor.

For information, visit lopa.org, or call 504-837-3355 or 1-800-521-GIVE.

“Our family has been blessed by the outpouring of love and prayerful support for our family’s situation,” David said. “Today, we are asking you to help LOPA raise awareness of the critical need for donors of tissue and organs to benefit the many people in Louisiana waiting for a match.”

<p>Dave and Mary Duplantis of Thibodaux said they can't express how much New Orleans-based Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency means to them.</p><p>The nonprofit group recovers organs and tissues for individuals needing transplants. </p><p>In 2010, Mary discovered she was suffering from Cardio Miopathy, which is the weakening of the heart muscle. Since May 2010, Mary has used a heart pump to keep her alive. The pump, called a Left Ventricular Assist Device, is needed to circulate the blood, doing the legwork Mary's heart can no longer do. </p><p>For 19 months she's lived in Houston for monthly treatments, waiting for her new chance at life. Mary has been on the heart transplant list since June 2011. </p><p>“She has been residing in Houston with our youngest son, Jacob, waiting for a donor to be identified for a heart transplant,” David said. </p><p>Mary's condition and the separation of their family has inspired the couple and their family to join together to raise awareness about the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency and the need for organ donors. </p><p>“Our family has decided to become involved in LOPA's fundraiser because we have experienced firsthand the miracles involved in organ donation,” David said. “We understand that organ donation may offer the gift of sight, freedom from machines or even life itself.”</p><p>Beginning at 8 a.m. March 2, LOPA is co-sponsoring a fundraiser, the “Marsh Mad Dash for Life,” on the Nicholls State University campus in Thibodaux. The inaugural fundraiser includes a fun walk/run and a 5K walk/run. The Duplantis family put together “Mary's Team” for the event. </p><p>Proceeds will benefit education throughout the community and statewide programs at schools, community groups, driver's education classes, churches and more. </p><p>Thibodaux Regional Medical Center and Terrebonne General Medical Center are co-sponsoring the event as well. </p><p>Colonels for Life, a Nicholls student group that promotes organized tissue donation and donor registry will help out. A group of culinary students will cook during the fundraiser, providing tasty local dishes like jambalaya. </p><p>Houma-based band Voodoo Bayou will perform. </p><p>“It'll be a great day,” said Kirsten Heintz, LOPA's director of public relations and education. </p><p>The event will include food, cash prizes for runners, door prizes and more. Everyone who registers receives a race T-shirt.</p><p>Heintz said there are about 1,700 people across the state waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. More than 116,000 are waiting across the United States. Last year, more than 100 people died in Louisiana while waiting for a transplant. </p><p>“It's so hard for all of us to know that there is something out there that can give Mary a much better quality of life, and she can't get it,” Heintz said. “There's nothing any of us can do to buy it or move ourselves up on the list except get more people to say yes to donations.” </p><p>She added that lots of local residents received and donated organs from this region.</p><p>“The problem is that organ donation is something that comes after we die, and our culture doesn't like to think about death,” Heintz said.</p><p>Some of the biggest misconceptions people have about being organ donors are that if it's marked on their driver's licenses, they won't receive medical attention to save their lives, she said. </p><p>“But that goes against every oath health care providers take,” Heintz said. “Plus you have to be at a hospital on a ventilator to even be considered.” </p><p>Some people also think it costs money to be a donor, which is also untrue. Heintz said there is no cost to the family of a deceased organ donor. </p><p>Other concerns include whether religions condone the act. Heintz said most major religions actually encourage organ donations or say it's an individual decision. </p><p>“For some in Christianity, it's one of the most Christ-like things a person can do,” she said. “Another misconception is that people can think they're too sick. Like people with diabetes. But, for example, maybe not a person's pancreas, but their liver or heart may be functioning fine.” </p><p>LOPA encourages everyone to talk to his or her family about becoming an organ donor. </p><p>For information, visit lopa.org, or call 504-837-3355 or 1-800-521-GIVE. </p><p>“Our family has been blessed by the outpouring of love and prayerful support for our family's situation,” David said. “Today, we are asking you to help LOPA raise awareness of the critical need for donors of tissue and organs to benefit the many people in Louisiana waiting for a match.”</p><p>Staff Writer Kris Johnson can be reached at 857-2207 or </p><p>kris.johnson@houmatoday.com. </p><p>Follow her on Twitter @krisLjo.</p>